We’re eager to get our hands on this mortadella sandwich. | Photo via Piccolina
Plenty of hot new restaurants have opened in Asheville this summer, but we’re hungry for more. Here are a few spots that’ll be serving you soon. Piccolina, 375 Depot St. | Italian
Located inside the Aura Arts building in the RAD, this Italian eatery is set to start serving sandwiches, Neopolitan pizza, Italian ice, and sweet, sweet Zeppole this fall.
Slava Cafe, 37 Wall St. | Ukrainian
Expect pierogis, cabbage rolls, and honey cakes made from family recipes at this cafe + bakery moving into the former Rite Rite location.
Pizza at Cellarest Beer Project, 395 Haywood Rd. | Italian It may not be in writing, but we’re fluent enough in emojis to understand the brewery’s last IG post. It looks like we can expect a wood-fired pizza truck to join Cassia on the patio soon.
Sip & Craft: Canvas Tote Bags | 6-8 p.m. | The Whale South Slope | $11 | Sip a beer while you create a personalized canvas tote bag.
Asheville Tourists Blood Drive | 11 a.m. | McCormick Field | Free | Donate blood to save lives + receive an AVL jersey and two tickets to a Tourists game.*
Friday, Aug. 15
2025 Asheville Film Festival | Friday, Aug. 15-Sunday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | Asheville Masonic Temple | $10+ | Wear your comfy clothes for three days of screening short indie films and documentaries — on the last night, sport your finest ‘fit for the Awards Night gala.
Saturday, Aug. 16
Come to Leicester Studio Tour | Saturday, Aug. 16-Sunday, Aug. 17 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Various locations | Free | Grab a map and embark on a self-guided tour of the workspaces of talented painters, ceramicists, sculptors, and craftspeople.
Utopian Seed Project - Trial to Table | 1-4 p.m. | The Mule | $30+ | Chefs from Chai Pani, Paperhouse Pizza, Found Ice Cream, and Sand Hill Kitchen will cook up delicious dishes using unique produce grown by Utopian Seed Project.
The Black Cat Market AVL | 2-7 p.m. | Eulogy | Free+ | Shop racks on racks of vintage clothes to find your new favorite piece for fall.
Sunday, Aug. 17
August Family Block Party | 2-7 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage | Free | Jam out to live music and dine on free food from Hickory Nut Gap Farm while the kiddos jump in the bounce house and decorate school supplies.
Candlelight Flow Yoga | 5-6:15 p.m. | Happy Body Pilates | $10+ | End the week and ease your mind with gentle movement in the softly lit space.
Monday, Aug. 18
A Dreamy Late Summer’s Eve | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Boomer’s Bourbon and Cigar Bar | $50 | Sip on a craft cocktail while you take in the immersive Shakespeare show combining live music, dance, drag, and cirque.
Stay injury-free through fall sports with professional care
Presented by Southeastern Orthopedics & Spine
Southeastern Orthopedics & Spine also has a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center. | Photos by Unsplash
A sports injury doesn’t have to stop you from reaching your goals — whether it’s a football championship or a fall marathon — but ignoring the pain might.
With five WNC locations, Southeastern Orthopedics & Spine’s team of experienced professionals can get you moving as quickly (+ safely) as possible after minor or major injuries.
Woodfin’s Outsider Brewing has poured its final pint from its own tanks, sending its brewing equipment to Foothills Watershed in Old Fort, where it will drive a new beer program. Outsider isn’t closing — it’ll keep the taps flowing with local brews. Toast their next chapter at their third anniversary bash on Saturday, Aug. 23. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Concert
On Monday, Sept. 15, The Orange Peel will host Grammy award-winning country artist Sierra Ferrell for a special WNC benefit show. Partnering with PLUS1Rapid Relief Fund, $2 from each ticket will support Helene relief efforts. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m.
Listen
To start your day with even more Asheville news, give Matt Pieken’s new podcast a listen. “Wake Up, Asheville” is a three- to four-minute overview of the local headlines from outlets like the Citizen-Times, BPR, and Asheville Watchdog. If you want to keep on listening, lend an ear to these other local podcasts.
Announced
The Asheville Symphony has announced its 2025-2026 season, beginning with the free Symphony in the Park on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. See what else is in store for the season, including an October performance with Ben Folds.
Drink
Bluebird Bubble Tea is trying out a delivery route next month, bringing boba tea right to your doorstep. Click the pop up on their website to inquire about pricing plans and delivery details.
Plan Ahead
These are pressing matters — Asheville FM’s 6th Annual Fall Record Fair is returning to Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville on Sunday, Aug. 7. Grab a $10 ticket to browse everything from cassettes to affordable LPs. But maybe grab an early bird ticket if you’re after the rare records.
Beauty
Restore thinning hair with Happy Head’s dermatologist-developed, customizable treatment plans. See how good customer results are + take 45% off your first six Rx orders with code 6AM.*
Stepps Hillcrest Orchard opens for the fall season tomorrow, Aug. 15, and this year, the Hendersonville farm’s corn maze is an ode to the region’s farmers.
For jam-packed days, these five on-the-go essentials keep us sane:
👜 This stylish + functional crossbody boasts multiple pockets and a soft leather feel for under $35.
💦 We stash these deodorizing body wipes in our car + purse because you never know when you’ll need a quick refresh.
👟 When rushing out the door, these slip-on canvas sneakers are our go-to kicks.
🌬️ This styling cream + wand stays in our purse to quickly tame frizz and flyaways that pop up on humid days.
🪫 We never have to worry about dead batteries and missed calls thanks to this portable power bank that can charge up to five devices at once.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I was thrilled to open my inbox yesterday morning to plenty of you guys sharing my excitement for a downtown skating rink. If you’re like me and you need a little practice on wheels, you can rent skates by the day from FishBrains, an inline and roller skate shop in the RAD.
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